me. It was the work of a moment. Holgate struck his arm
up, and the bullet whizzed past me and banged into the chart-house.

"Steady there, doctor," said Holgate. "Glad to see you. Just in time,
wasn't I? Step along down there." I moved towards the ladder and
descended to the lower deck, where Holgate met me.

"Difficult to keep our respective men in hand, isn't it, doctor?" he
said with a quizzical look. "But I won't have any firing on a flag of
truce any more than you. You and I keep to the code of honour."

I could have sworn that the piece of comedy which had just been
performed had been his. I knew for certain now that it was his jest,
this crude and savage joke that was on the margin of tragedy, and might
have gone over the border. But what would he care, this infamous man of
astute intelligence, cold, cunning, and ruthless determination? His
eyes twinkled, and he laughed now so as to disclose his abominable
fang.

"We are now quits, eh, doctor?" he said. "His Royal Highness would have
had me but for you, and now Pierce yonder would have potted you but for
me. I like honourable warfare," he chuckled.

"Well," said I cheerfully, for I was resolved to take him in his own
way, "then the Prince's offence is wiped out. He is forgiven."

"Oh, there's nothing to forgive about the Prince," says Holgate
indifferently. "I don't want him. I want his safe. What's a Prince or
two?" He looked at me narrowly. "Shall we get to business? Changed your
minds?"

"There's not the slightest chance of that," I answered. "You may set
that on record."

"Say, I will," said he, unexpectedly turning, and called out, "Pierce,
Gray, come here. Just listen to the whoop our cockerels give up there.
Now, doctor, spit it out."

"I have nothing to add to my statement that there is no chance of any
terms," I said sharply.

"Think of that," observed Holgate to the others. "They don't know
what's good for them. Well, let 'em alone, doctor. Let 'em stew in
their juice. They'll come round in a brace of shakes, after a little
argument, let's say."

Gray guffawed, and Pierce grinned, his thin face puckering to his eyes,
an unpleasing sight. It was clear who was master here. Holgate
commanded by the sheer force of his individuality and his coolness.

"Well, to what do we owe the honour of this visit?" went on Holgate
easily. "Come to borrow some of our provisions? Strikes me you're a bit
fond of the forecastle. We shall have to make room fo